Ever since MLB moved All*Star voting exclusively online a few years ago, the fans have done a really good job. I think it's probably because they include the stats on the ballot, a feature I really like. But whatever the reason is, people are definitely taking a harder look and voting for guys who actually deserve to be there as opposed to stuffing the ballot box with players from their favorite team (I'm looking at you, Royals fans).
With that being said, I have no problem with the fact that Bryce Harper is going to start the All*Star Game with a .211 batting average. The game is in Washington, and he's the face of the Nationals' franchise. It's the All*Star Game, and the biggest star on the home team always has a place there. Do his numbers warrant a selection? Probably not. But you're not gonna find many people complaining that the All*Star hosts will be represented in the starting lineup by their most popular player. And if Harper's the only one of the 17 fan-elected starters who's even remotely questionable, I'd say the fans did a great job.
It's a near certainty that the starting lineups have changed since the polls closed on Thursday. But, since we have no idea who was caught and by whom, I'm going with the vote leaders as of the last update as my starters.
You'll also notice that my AL roster is very top heavy. That's because the five playoff teams are that much better than everybody else. In fact, I've got at least three All*Stars from all five playoff teams and only one from each of the other 10. That will probably change due to Gleyber Torres' injury, but he's eligible to come off the DL on Sunday, so he doesn't technically have to be replaced on the All*Star roster yet (although he likely will be). And, yes, I had to get a little creative with the team reps in the AL. But I was able to do it while still following the 12 pitcher rule (and somehow still managed to get all three Astros starters in there!).
The National League, meanwhile, is far less top heavy. In fact, I've got more members of the last-place Cincinnati Reds making the squad than the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks. I also watch the NL far less than I watch the AL, so I have a much larger margin for error there. And, since they have two extra spots to fill because of no DH, the team reps are much easier to put in there.
As for the starting pitchers, I think they're both pretty easy. Max Scherzer started for the NL last year, and he should again. Not only is he the ace of the team hosting the game, he's arguably the best pitcher in the National League.
In the American League, it's a much tougher choice. Mainly because there are so many good options. But I was able to narrow it down to two--Justin Verlander, the best pitcher in the AL for the first six weeks of the season, and Luis Severino, the best pitcher in the AL over the last six weeks. I can easily see A.J. Hinch going with his own guy, but I think Severino is the clear choice.
And with that, here we go...
AMERICAN LEAGUE
C: *-Wilson Ramos, Rays; Salvador Perez, Royals
1B: *-Jose Abreu, White Sox; Mitch Moreland, Red Sox
2B: *-Jose Altuve, Astros; Gleyber Torres, Yankees (injured, will likely be replaced)
SS: *-Manny Machado, Orioles; Jean Segura, Mariners
3B: *-Jose Ramirez, Indians; Miguel Andujar, Yankees
OF: *-Mookie Betts, Red Sox; *-Mike Trout, Angels; *-Aaron Judge, Yankees; Andrew Benintendi, Red Sox; Michael Brantley, Indians; Nicholas Castellanos, Tigers; Eddie Rosario, Twins
DH: *-J.D. Martinez, Red Sox; Shin-Soo Choo, Rangers
SP: Chris Sale, Red Sox; Corey Kluber, Indians; Gerrit Cole, Astros; Charlie Morton, Astros; Justin Verlander, Astros; Luis Severino, Yankees; James Paxton, Mariners; J.A. Happ, Blue Jays
RP: Craig Kimbrel, Red Sox; Aroldis Chapman, Yankees; Blake Treinen, Athletics; Edwin Diaz, Mariners
NATIONAL LEAGUE
C: *-Buster Posey, Giants; J.T. Realmuto, Marlins
1B: *-Freddie Freeman, Braves; Jose Martinez, Cardinals
2B: *-Ozzie Albies, Braves; Javier Baez, Cubs; Scooter Gennett, Reds
SS: *-Brandon Crawford, Giants; Trevor Story, Rockies
3B: *-Nolan Arenado, Rockies; Eugenio Suarez, Reds; Max Muncy, Dodgers
OF: *-Nick Markakis, Braves; *-Matt Kemp, Dodgers; *-Bryce Harper, Nationals; Charlie Blackmon, Rockies; Lorenzo Cain, Brewers; Odubel Herrera, Phillies; Corey Dickerson, Pirates
SP: Patrick Corbin, Diamondbacks; Sean Newcomb, Braves; Jon Lester, Cubs; Jacob de Grom, Mets; Aaron Nola, Phillies; Miles Mikolas, Cardinals; Michael Wacha, Cardinals; Max Scherzer, Nationals
RP: Brandon Morrow, Cubs; Josh Hader, Brewers; Brad Hand, Padres; Sean Doolittle, Nationals
AL Final Vote: Francisco Lindor, Indians (SS); George Springer, Astros (OF); Andrelton Simmons, Angels (SS); Eduardo Escobar, Twins (SS); Dee Gordon, Mariners (2B)
NL Final Vote: Paul Goldschmidt, Diamondbacks (1B); Kris Bryant, Cubs (3B); Brian Anderson, Marlins (3B); Christian Yelich, Brewers (OF); Andrew McCutchen, Giants (OF)
My AL lineup is: Betts-LF, Altuve-2B, Trout-CF, Martinez-DH, Judge-RF, Ramirez-3B, Machado-SS, Abreu-1B, Ramos-C, Severino-P. My NL lineup is: Blackmon-DH, Harper-CF, Arenado-3B, Freeman-1B, Kemp-LF, Markakis-RF, Posey-C, Crawford-SS, Albies-2B, Scherzer-P.
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